WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2956, 30 November 1900, Page 4

WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Waimate County Council met on Wednesday last. There were present Councillors Elworthy, Studholme Rhodes, Ross, Milne, Hardie, Lyall, Walker, and the chairman, Mr Douglas. Correspondence was read as follows: From the Land and Survey Department, stating that the proposal for the formation of a new road on No. 2 Pareora settlement would be held over at present as the Council refused to contribute to the cost, of the formation. From Mr Copeland’s solicitor, stating that unless the Council reconsiders its refusal to raise the road to the proper level at Esk Bank fords, Otaio, legal proceedings will be taken.

From Mr Hamilton, with a legal opinion on the matter complaijied of by Mr Copeland, and on Mr Smith's complaint of Otaio. From Major Steward, M.H.R., advising the Council to apply to the Lands Department for a subsidy in aid of the formation of Dog Kennel road. From the Land and Survey Department, stating that the formation of the new road No. 2 Pareora settlement, would stand over for the present, the Council having refused to have the work done unless the Government paid the whole cost.

Mr 0. O’Neill directed attention to the bad state of the road known as Martin’s road between Timaru Main Road and J. Martin’s.

From the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, advising the Council of the appointment of Mr Cochrane, County Clerk, as returning officer for the election of a representative on the Board, for the .combined districts .of Waimate county and borough, on the 28th instant, at Waimate County office. From the Timaru High School Board, informing the Council that by effluxion of time the Rev. George Barclay has retired from his seat on that Board as representative of Waimate County Council. A report of the costs of advertising showed an. increase during the last few years. Last year’s costs under this head was £167 Is lOd, while during the previous year the cost of advertising was £lls 7s 3d. The report recommended that tenders be invited from various papers. From Mr J. H. Andrews, of Glenavy, asking for a water-race crossing near his place to be made passable, as at present it was unsafe.

From Mr) Wm. Annett, of St. Andrews, asking that the water-race be brought through his land for which he is paying rates, or that he may be allowed exemption from payment of water rates.—Mr Travers, chairman of the Pareora Waterrace Committee, objected to any water ratepayer being exempted from payment of rate except Mr Wm. Annett and Mr J. Gordon, who have no race whatever on their lands ; as nearly all the settlers have taken their lands subject to charges for water rate. There is a plentiful supply in all the races, the only trouble being the keeping of the exit to the sea clear of aquatic vegetation, which could be done easily if all the settlers were careful to keep races clean. From Mr Crawford re Mr James Kennedy’s claim.—Summons to be issued in District Court against the Council.—Mr J. Major said that his land was flooded by Whitney’s creek, and asked relief. He believed that the chief cause of the trouble was growth of weeds, etc., on the road lines and creeks.

Mr Barnett, chairman of the Waihao Water-race Committee, reported on the water races in that district. The committee had decided that ratepayers who had no races on their land should have races made for them, provided they assisted. Permission was asked to have the proposed races surveyed and estimates of the work obtained. Messrs Slattery and McCulloch have no races on their land. The committee recommended that the surplus of £ll9 to credit of the Waihoa water-race works, and now available for survey work only, be applied to the costs of survey and construction. Mr Scott had been allowed to make an alteration in his race. The committee were willing to undertake all water-race business.

The Waihao water ranger reported a good supply of water in the Waihao district races. In some cases they were not kept clean. He recommended that 10 chains of race near Glenavy be concreted, the leakage caused by porous subsoil being great. Mr R.. G. Baxter, C.E., reported on the Waihao water races, pointing out some defects and causes of leakage, and recommending various improvements and adjustments.

From Knottingly Park Domain Board, informing the Council of damages to land from the flooding of the Waimate creek near the park, and asking the Council to allow its engineerl to inspect the place and report as to protective! works. From the Waimate Borough Council, stating that Mr Dean had been nominated as representative of the combined Waimate

county and borough districts on the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. .. . From the Rev. G. Barclay, consenting to his election as member of the Timaru High School Board. From Mrs B. Lawrie, of St. Andrews, complaining of the great want of water supply in the races through her land. From Mr T. Teschemaker, stating that the late floods had washed away the road a the creek crossing section 18391, near woolshed, Otaio, and that immediate attention to the work was required. From Mr John Hopkins, drawing attention to a drain made by the near his place. The dram required to be made deeper, so that .it might carry away the water from the road. From Mr Hamilton, ° ion on matters connected with Mr J. Smith’s application re Eskbank «t re ™- The engineer’s report was read, on works in progerss throughout the country, state of roads, and on particular works as °“ he °XtoEw. George Barclay was »decttd to a seat on the Timaru High School B °Messrs Walker and Dean were elected members of the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. ... , Councillor Ross gave notice that at next meeting of the Council he would move to have rescinded a resolution of the Council, devoting the surplus of the Waihao waterrace fund now in hand, £ll9, to the purpose of survey costs in connection with that water district, and moving that the sum be spent in survey and construction W °The following resolutions were passed: Overseer to report on applications, viz., Mr C. O’Neil, road repairs Martin s road, Makikihi; Mr Teschemaker’s application, Otaio riding; on threatening state of Waihao river at main road crossing ;Mrßidder’s complaint re fencing near ford at his land, Deep Creek riding; Mr Hawkins s application for road work; Mr Ross s information as to dangerous cutting at O’Brien’s, Waihao ; on the Domain Board s application re protective works, Waimate creek, near Knottingly Park; engineer to attend to Mr T. Teschemaker’s report as to injury to road and crossing by flooding section 18391; and to the deepening of road drain as asked for by Mr J. Hopkins. Jn considering the matter referred to by Mr Copeland, of Otaio, in his letter, the. Council went into committee; also in the matter of government subsidies for Dog Kennel Creek and Pareora No. 2 new road formation.

The chairman and Councillor Walker were appointed to interview the proprietors of the two Waimate papers in regard to charges for advertising, and report to next meeting, and that tenders for balance sheet be obtained from Waimate papers, and hat the question of advertising in Timaru and Camara papers be held over for consideration. The engineers reported that the water-race crossing referred to by Mr J. H. Andrews was being attended to. It was resolved that Mr Annett be exempted from payment of water rate in Paerora district. Mrs Lawrie’s complaint of want of water in the race on her land was referred to the Pareora Water Committee. The engineer was directed to lay i«' tls, and prepare for calling for tenders for clearing Whitney’s creek of weeds, etc., adjacent settlers to be charged half cost. The following works were directed to be done:—Bussell’s application; Tiffen and others road in Makikihi riding; Geddes’ application; Court’s application, road repairs Deep Creek; Walker’s application, road repairs on main Hook line, Deep Creek, and Makikihi ridings The engineer reported the completion of Hayes’s road repairs, drainage at the Rev. Mr . Barnett’s, preparing for repairs to north Bush road. Some ratepayers had lately been fined for failure to comply with notice to clear gorse off roads. It was suggested that steps be taken to clear Waimate Creek bed of gorse, etc. Consideration of engineer’s suggestions as to by-law dealing with wheel tyres was held over. As to Elephant Hill Creek overflow, up to present time the engineer was unable to give sufficient information. Mr H. Meyers offered the necessary help of horses for repairs to road near Studholme Junction.—Offer accepted. It was resolved that steps be taken for the closing of the road on section 34508, Waihao, applied for by Mr Grant. The report of Mr R. G. Baxter, C.E., cn the state of Waihao water-races and how the properties were affected was read, and referred to the Water Committee for its report for next meeting. Tenders had been invited for bridge works: —Becket’s bridge. Only one tender, that of Hollamby and Son, was received for £ll4 10s, and accepted. Accounts amounting to £lOl3 11s 3d were passed for payment. At the annual meeting on the same day, the same Councillors were present. Mr Douglas was unanimously re-elected chairman, on the motion of Councillors Rhodes and Milne, and a vote of thanks was accorded to him for his steady attention to the business of the Council and for the efficient services rendered by him as chairman during the past year. Councillors Ross, Walker, Hardie, and Studholme were nominated for Waimate Hospital Board of Trustees, and the chairman was authorised to record the votes of the Council at the election on December Ist. The dog tax for 1901 was fixed at 2s 6d per collar. Tenders to be called for county ranger, and dog tax collector, in each of the three districts into which the county is divided for that purpose The slaughterfiouse appointments were held over.

It was resolved that the regular meetings of the Council during next year be held on the last Wednesday of each month; the next meeting to be on Wednesday, December 19th. No decision was arrived at concerning the cutting of grass on the county roads.